美国语文第五册 第13期:农场少年(2)

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　　Leapfrog is one of his methods of getting over the ground quickly. 蛙跳行进堪称快捷走完路程的美妙方法之一。

　　He would willingly go an errand any distance if he could leapfrog it with a few other boys. 当然，能与其他几个狐朋狗友互动互乐更好，这样的话，他挺乐意四下跑腿，路再远似乎也毫不在乎。

　　He has a natural genius for combining pleasure with business. 忙中作乐，对农场少年来说，似乎是与生俱来的。

　　This is the reason why, when he is sent to the spring for a pitcher³ of water, he is absent so long; 如果让他去泉边汲水，很长时间他都不会回来。

　　for he stops to poke⁴ the frog that sits on the stone, or, or, if there is a penstock, to put his hand over the spout⁵, and squirt the water a little while. 他总会时而停留片刻，或者戳捣一番趴在青石上的青蛙。碰到木槽水管之类，他非得将手伸到木槽下，乐不可支地玩会水后才心满意足地回家。

　　He is the one who spreads the grass when the men have cut it; he mows⁶ it away in the barn; 大人们割下田里的草，农场少年需要将青草摊开曝晒，还要将谷仓里干草堆成跺。

　　he rides the horse, to cultivate the corn, up and down the hot, weary rows; 他还要骑马、种玉米，上上下下，整天屁颠颠地左右逢源。

　　he picks up the potatoes when they are dug; 马铃薯该收了，他跟着收庄稼；

　　he drives the cows night and morning; he brings wood and water, and splits kindling⁷; he gets up the horse, and puts out the horse; 清晨，他赶着牛群外出放牧；黄昏，他牵着牛群打道回府；他还要拣柴、提水、劈柴、生火、喂马、洗马、拴马、遛马……

　　whether he is in the house or out of it, there is always something for him to do. 家里家外，每天的事情总也做不完。

　　Just before the school in winter he shovels⁸ paths; in summer he turns the grindstone. 冬天开学前，农场少年先要铲除路上的坚冰积雪，夏天该找出磨石磨刀霍霍。

　　He knows where there are lots of wintergreens and sweet flags, 他知道哪里的鹿蹄草最多，哪里的白菖蒲最甜，

　　but instead of going for them, he is to stay indoors and pare apples, and stone raisins⁹, and pound something in a mortar¹⁰. 不过，他可不能急着出门摘采；他还得待在家里削苹果，将葡萄干晾晒在石片上，把食材放进研钵臼烂。

　　And yet, with his mind full of schemes of what he would like to do,  他满脑子装满大大小小需要做的事，

　　and his hands full of occupations, he is an idle boy, who has nothing to busy himself with but school and chores! 手上更是根本闲不住，难道他还能游手好闲？除去学业和家里家外的繁琐杂活，他哪有心思想到自己。

　　He would gladly do all the work if somebody else would do the chores, he thinks; 农场少年觉得，如果有人愿意揽下这些庞杂琐碎，他宁愿去做那些正儿八经的活儿。

　　and yet I doubt if any boy ever amounted to anything in the world, 不过，我怀疑，如果一个少年不喜欢受益于这种干杂活的自由式教育，

　　or was of much use as a man, who did not enjoy the advantages of a liberal education in the way of chores. 他将来是否能在世上找到自己可干点什么，能否做一个尽量有用之人。

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